The Portland daily press., 1887-06-18
z. p. ROE.
How Ne Became an Author-A
Sketch of the Famous Novelist.

luC uOot pOpuldl uONCilob III AnCAlSd w
day is E. p. Roe. His stories have had an
aggregate sale of over million copies. More
than quarter of million have been sold
since last fall. The steady demand for his
books is something remarkable; it never falls
off. His publishers can rely upon 1t year in
and year out as surely as can the publishers
of magazine. His readers are numbered
by millions, many of whom have come to
cherish a warm regard for the author HIM
self. To all Of these any news about him
self or his books will be interesting.
In appear ance Mr.. Roe is tall, broad
shouldered man, with full, flowing beard, a
pleasant face, yet one that is full of energy
and determination, and a high forehead, still
further heightened by slight badness. He is
still in the prime of life, having been born
in 1888, in Windsor, N: T., on the banks OF
and in 1862 was made Chaplain Of the Second
New York, or the Harris Light Cavalry.
Later he was appointed by President Lin
coin one of the Chaplains Of the hospitals at
Fortress Monroe. Returning from the war
at Highland Falls, N. Y, within a mile Of
West Point. His familiarity with this local
ity furnishes the basis for one Of the most
charming of his stories, Natures Serial
Story"
WALTON the Hudson and began the cultiva-
tion Of small fruits, acquiring wide reputa-
ton in this business.
The way he came to be an author Is as un-
usual as his success since has been. 1t Is
best told in his own words: "The burning OF
Chicago in 1871 impressed me powerfully,
and obedient to an impulse l spent several
days among its smoking ruins. AS result,
my first novel, Barriers Burned Away, took
possession of my mind. did not manufac-
4,,r,o ha ~ oil for If a { naturally
as do the plants-weeds, some may suggest
on my farm. In the intervals of busy and
practical life, and also when l ought to have
been sleeping, my imagination, unspurred
and almost undirected, spun the warp ana
wool Of the tale and .wove them together.
had no preparation for the tale beyond a
careful study of the topography Of Chicago,
and the incidents Of the fire. For nearly
year my chief recreation was to dwell apart
among the shadows erected by my fancy, and
/ wrote when and where / could-on steam
boats and railroads, as well as In my study"
Barriers Burned Away was his first at
tempt. He never before had written line
of story, and had scarcely entertained the
thought of constructing one. At first he In
tended to write only short story, but as he
wrote, Il grew under hislhands, from seven
or eight to fifty-two chapters. Doubts OF its
merit tempted him more than once to throw
| 1t away, and had it not been for the fayora-
BILE judgment of dear friend 1t probably
would never have reached the publishers.
II am not sure" he writes, ''but the impulse
| to write would have carried me onward, and
| that / should have found ample return for
all the labor in the free play, Of my fancy,
even though editors and publishers scoffed
at the result"
But the story was not destined for the
waste-basket. The first eight chapters Of 1t
were read one day to DIR. Henry Field, editor
of the New York Evangelist I'm" ms irag-
existed, and, as l stumbled through my
| rather blind chirography, often looked
askance at the glowing crate, fearing that
| my friend in kindness would suggest that
| | drop the crude production on the glowing
Goals where it could do neither me nor any
one else further harm, and then go out into
| the world once more clothed in my right
mind" Instead of this, DR.. Field very wise
| ly secured the manuscript for serial issue,
| and his good judgment was shown by the
| fact that its publication materially benefited
| the circulation of the Evangelist.
The next thing was to secure publisher
| for the book. For information on this point
| the writer is indebted to Mr.. Dodd, senior
member Of the firm Of DOdd, Mead & Co.,
who have from the very first been Mr.. Roe's
| publishers. "Mr. Roe brought this manu-
| script to Us one day." said Mr.. Dodd. Il
| have forgotten whether that was before he
| had shown it to DIR. Field or afterward, but
| am inclined to think it was afterward. We
read it and made him an offer. AT that time
we looked upon the venture as purely expert
mental Mr. Roe accepted our offer and we
| announced the book. In a short time letters
began to pour in on us from people who had
seen our announcement, and had also read
| as much of the story as had appeared in the
| Evangelist, asking us when the book would
be published. These letters were the first
indication we had Of the story's popularity
| but they were very sure sign. An edition
was issued, and it sold rapidly, and the sale
since has been very large and steady"
Barriers Burned Away" has had the larg-
est sale. without a Home" stands second
on the list, and considering the fact that II
was published ten years later, is the most
popular. Opening of a Chestnut Burr
| stands next on the list; Near to Natures
Heart" has had a very large sale, and the
others follow very closely. There is not one
of his novels that has not had wide circu-
latiOn.
All have been published in England and
the Colonies. Mr.. Roe has, in almost every
instance, arranged with English publishers
for an authorized edition from advanced
sheets, and receives compensation. His Sto-
ries are also translated into German and
French.
With one or two exceptions. he has written
1 one every year. Some Of them are first pub
lished serially. while others appear only In
book form.
Many Of Mr.. Roe's readers undoubtedly
know that few years ago he sustained Sc
we're financial losses, but probably only few
know the cause and his subsequent efforts
to make that loss good His failure was due
to generous Endorsement Of his brothers pa
per. He has since, by the aid of his pen
satisfied freely all claims against him. Their
is no connection whatever, as some hav'
supposed, between his financial losses anC
his writings. He was not driven to writing
he wrote because he wanted to and haG
something to say.